Interchangeable-letter bulletin-board.



J. M. SCHILLING.

INTERCHANGEABLE LETTER BULLETIN BOARD.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7,1913.

1, 146,528. Patented July 13, 1915.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO-.WA5HINOTON. D. C.

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JOHN M. scnrnnrne, or o H-Ioaeo, ILLINOIS.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

INTERCHANGEABLE-LETTEB. BULLETIN-BOARD.

PatentedJuly13, 1915.

Application filed ma 7, 1913. Serial No. 766,090.

To all whom it concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. SGHILLING, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Interchangeable LetterBulletin-Boards, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in interchangeable letterbulletin boards and its object is to produce a device of this classcomprising a frame or support to which a plurality of transverse bars,spaced apart, are secured; said bars being adapted to removably retainin set position a plurality .of letter plates which may be so positionedas to form a word or words, signs or symbols. Means are provided forkeeping the said letters plates, which are preferably suspended from thesaid bars, in alinement with each other and for retaining them inoperative position during and after alterations in the positions of thesupporting means for said letter plates.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists inthe combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter fullydescribed in the following specification, pointed out in the claim andillustrated in the accompanying drawing which forms a part of saidspecification and in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portionof the frame or supporting means by which the letter plates are carried.Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail of a portionof one of the supporting bars, enlarged. Fig. at is an end elevation ofFig. 8. Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is arear view of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail of the strip and barjust before they are clamped together. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of aportion of one of the strips employed. Fig. 9 is an end view of Fig. 7showing the parts fastened together. Fig. 10 is a view of Fig. 9 securedto the frame or support employed. Fig. 11 is a rear view of Fig. 10.Fig. 12 is a front elevation of one of the letter plates. Fig. 13 is anedge view of Fig. 8. Fig. 14 is an edge view of Fig. 12. Fig. 15 is anend elevation of the device with the supports removed showing that theletter plates will hang vertically regardless of the angle of theirsupports.

Like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views. In one embodiment of my invention I provide a frame orsupport composed of a pair of uprights 1, l to which a plurality of bars2, preferably spaced apart, are secured by screws or other suitablefastening means 3. A pair of strips 4, 4 secured to the uprights 1, 1are disposed between the same and the bars 2 are apertured as at 5 topermit passage therethrough of the screws 3. Each bar 2 is preferablyformed of a single strip of material, metal or fiber, which along onelongitudinal edge is bent back almost upon itself as at 6 forming arearwardly extending flange whose base 7 forms the upper edge of bar 2and which is bent forwardly out of the plane of the body of the bar 2;the opposite longitudinal edge of the bar 2 is bent back in thedirection of the portion 6 approximately at an angle of 4-5 degrees withsaid bar as at 7 forming an angular flange. The foregoing is thepreferred formation of each of the bars employed and they are arrangedone above the other and spaced a very slight distance apart. Each end ofeach bar 2 is formed with a pair of elongated slots 8, 8 preferablydisposed above and below the aperture 5 in that bar. Each strip 4, towhich the several bars are directly fastened, is formed with a pluralityof integral lugs 9 which are punched out therefrom leaving apertures 10in said strips and said lugs 9 are adapted to be in serted in theapertured portions 8 of the bars 2 whereby the said bars and strips aresecured together.

11 is the letter plate, one edge 12 of which is bent back to form aflange by which said plate is removably secured to the bar 2. The flange12 is inserted over the forwardly bent portion 7 of the bar 2 and shouldthe uprights 1, 1 with bars 2 be tilted or inclined forward the flange12 of plate 11 will swing toward the flange 6 of bar 2 while the severalletter plates remain in alinement with each other and in operativeposition.

While the foregoing is the preferred embodiment of my invention I,nevertheless, reserve the right to make such alterations as may be foundexpedient in the commercial use of my invention within the scope of theclaim.

What is claimed is In an interchangeable letter bulletin board thecombination with vertical supports; of bars arranged one above the otheron the supports and spaced apart, each bar having its upper edge portioninclined forwardly and upwardly and then turned back upon itself and aplurality of letter plates having rearwardly and downwardly extendingflanges on their upper edges whereby they may be movably supported uponthe upper edge portions of said bars, the angles between each letterplate and its flange being large enough to allow the letter plate toswing forwardly when the bulletin board is tilted forwardly and therebymaintain a vertical position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two subscribing wits nesses.

JOHN MSCHILLING.

WVitnesses:

LnonAV. DAUGHT Y, JOHN T. DINGLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for fi ve cents each, byaddressing the (ionimissi onen 0i Patents Washington, D. 0.

